1965 Triumph Spitfire Mk1

Finished in white but effervescent in the way it looks, this Spitfire 4 is an import from South Africa. That’s not surprising as the Spitfire was a runaway success in export markets, finding most buyers in the US. First owned by a doctor and then by a gentleman who meticulously restored the Spitfire to as close a spec as it must’ve left the Durban assembly line, this car is one of the cleanest examples on the market.

But the restoration wasn’t just limited to that, other small but effective changes were made to the car, too. And when it returned to the UK earlier this year, the vendor, who had bought the car with an intention to attend car shows with it, ensured that period-correct cosmetic bits (which were supposed to be on the car but couldn’t be added due to unavailability in South Africa) were fitted.

The second owner, responsible for restoring the Spitfire, bought it as a retirement present to himself. The car’s first owner had kept it in good shape and as it's a well-maintained Gauteng car, it didn’t require too much work on the body, mentions the vendor. All the mechanicals were rebuilt, and the odometer was set to zero. Since the time the restoration was completed, it has done just 400 miles, it has always been kept in the garage and hasn’t been taken out in the rain, adds the vendor.

It’s almost a miracle that the Triumph Spitfire actually made it to production. The design prototype by Giovanni Michelloti was almost forgotten when Standard ran into financial problems. Thankfully as soon as it was discovered by the company’s new owner, Leyland, the car was turned into a production model in record time.

This example’s restoration in South Africa began with taking the body off the chassis, repainting it, and restoring all the necessary components. The correct badges and some other items including trims were affixed once the car reached the UK. With just 400 miles after restoration, it’s practically a newly restored car. And the photos make that quite evident.

It’s easily one of the cleanest examples of Spitfire 4 that you can find. Having said that, there are tiny marks that although mightn’t detract from its aforementioned status but will need to be kept in mind if you’re heading to a concours right after taking delivery of this car. A few minute marks on the insides of panels aside, the hard top will need some attention, too.

But the car is also supplied with a full tonneau cover and a clean soft top. Its bumpers, badges, wheels, and chrome bits look as if this Spitfire left the dealer forecourt maybe six days ago — certainly not six decades as its paperwork suggests. When new, in comparison to both the Sprite Mk2 and the Midget, the Spitfire looked much better. This one still does.

Apart from its looks, what worked in favour of the Triumph Spitfire was the slightly roomier interior, in comparison to its main rivals. The renewed interior is factory-fresh, and everywhere you look, it’s a visual delight. That’s not even an exaggeration because not only is it well-appointed, the original design was actually so good that it doesn’t look uninteresting now.

The previous owner made a few changes to the car to make it slightly more useful to him. The smaller aftermarket steering is one such inclusion — it made getting in and out of the car easier. But if you wanted to revert to the original, the standard wheel is included with the car. Some cushioning was added to the rear shelf so that the previous owner’s grandchildren could sit on it.

In terms of visual condition, there’s nothing to fault here, with upholstery, switches, meters, etc. being restored to an unmistakably high standard. The boot houses the spare wheel and jack, and if you notice, there are panels to hide the fuel tank. This was also done by the car’s second owner in SA, and it makes the boot appear cleaner.

The centrally positioned instrument cluster might’ve been swapped for a conventional layout in future models, but it looks great like this. The more modern Pioneer radio gets overlooked, so it doesn't look out of place. That’s mainly because the interior has so much to like, even with its rather minimal design that one tends to ignore everything else.

With a modified version of the Herald platform, Standard effectively got a brand-new car that was closer to the ground, shorter than the Herald but marginally roomier than the rivals. For the Spitfire 4 (Mk1 and Mk2 both), Triumph used a 1147 cc engine. In the former, it made 63 bhp and helped the car attain a top speed of 90+ mph. A 0-60 mph time of 16+ seconds might seem slow by today’s standards, but the Spitfire wasn’t made for outright straight-line speed anyway. It was made for enjoying every moment you’d spend driving it; and when the time came to drop the anchors, with factory-fitted front disc brakes, it wouldn’t take too long before the Spitfire would come to a halt. That’s a solid positive, although some say it can be a little tricky in the wet when closer to the extreme limits of adhesion.

As a part of its full restoration, not just the body but also the chassis was sent for a respray. Evident in the photos, especially when you look at the car’s undercarriage that nothing has been neglected on this one. When the body was taken off the chassis, the second owner discovered very little corrosion. The restoration also included an engine rebuild and refurbishment of drivetrain and suspension, adds the vendor.

Motor Assemblies at Durban was responsible for the Spitfire in South Africa, and the Mk1 was produced from 1963 to the end of 1965. This, a 1965 example, had two owners in South Africa. According to the vendor, it was the first owner’s pride and joy. The second owner, responsible for the condition you see the car in, used to restore old British cars and Ford Mustangs. He spent a fair bit of time, effort, and money to achieve what’s one of the best-looking Spitfire Mk1 examples around.

The vendor imported the car into the UK early this year and is the only owner in the UK. He intended to take it to car shows but a change in priorities has led to this sale. He’s added some parts to the car, which weren’t available in South Africa or weren’t on the freshly restored example. These include badges, battery clamps, trim, etc. He adds that the slight modifications made by the second owner in SA can be reversed if you’re strictly after an original.

Included with the car is a bunch of paperwork including old invoices for replacement and the repairs/respray carried out in the past. The NOVA and South African registration documents are also present, in addition to the import letter; the former will make registering the car in the UK possible.

Like some of its contemporaries, the Spitfire was Triumph’s near-perfect, affordable sports car. Updated throughout its life to keep up and (almost always) beat the rivals, the Spitfire 4 also proved to be a prime example of Michelotti’s design genius. With its platform shared with the Herald, it didn’t require Leyland to empty its treasury, either. Nearly six decades later after it was introduced, buying and maintaining one isn’t going to be an arduous experience, as long as it’s a good example that you’ve bought. This 1965 Triumph Spitfire, at an estimated value of £13,000 - £19,000, appears to be one.

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